Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki has held on to his job after meeting President Barack Obama to discuss a scandal over preventable deaths and treatment delays at a hospital for retired military personnel.

The president summoned Mr Shinseki to the White House on Wednesday morning to discuss the turmoil engulfing the agency.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Rob Nabors, who is leading an investigation into the issue, also attended.

Eric Shinseki has been called for a White House meeting with the President

Mr Obama said afterwards: "If these allegations are true it is dishonourable, it is disgraceful and I will not tolerate it. Period."

He said anyone responsible for "cooking the books" on care delays would be held to account.

But he defended Mr Shinseki, saying he had been "a great soldier, and nobody cares more about our veterans".

Mr Obama added he had ordered Mr Shinseki to find out the full scope of the problem.

The president is said to be "madder than hell" over allegations of a fraudulent waiting list at an Arizona veterans hospital.

Some 40 veterans may have died while waiting for care at the facility in Phoenix.

Twenty-six facilities are now being investigated nationwide - up from 10 last week.

Sky News' Dominic Waghorn in Washington says the White House is right to point out that this scandal goes back to the Bush years.

But the Obama administration is being blamed for not dealing with it quickly enough.

Republicans are smelling blood and Mr Obama's decision to keep Mr Shinseki on is the riskier option in a crucial midterm election year, says our US correspondent.

Mr Shinseski, a retired Army general and Vietnam veteran, has rejected calls for his resignation.

But Robert Petzel quit as undersecretary for health in the Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday.

Three senior officials in Phoenix have been placed on administrative leave.

The House of Representatives is voting on Wednesday on a bill that would give the VA secretary greater authority to fire or demote senior executives.